Cool water reservoir for refrigerators



1942- K. I. MILLER EI'AL I COOL WATER RESERVOIR FOR REFRIGERATORS 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 7, 1941 Oct. 20, 1942.

K. 1. MILLER Erm. 2,299,103

COOL WATER RESERVOIR FOR REFRIGERATORS Filed July 7, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet2 Patented Oct. 20, 1942 COOL WATER RESERVOIR FOR REFRIGERATOBSKinney 1. Miller, Lancaster. and Irwin Dunbar,

' Kirksvill e. Mo.

Application Julyi, 1941, Serial No. 401,326

' (Cl. 62-89) r Claims.

Our invention relates to refrigerators and particularly a cool waterreservoir installed in the refrigerator wall for maintaining a constantsupply of cool water which can be tapped ofl outside the refrigeratorcabinet.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide a cool water reservoirfor a refrigerator which occupies a substantially minimum amount ofspace within the cabinet of the refrigerator and which is removablyattached to the inside wall of the refrigerator so that it can beremoved 7 when desired for cleaning or replacement.

Also among the objects of the invention is to provide a new and improvedremovable cool water reservoir for a refrigerator which is accessiblefrom the outside of the refrigerator cabinet without opening the door ofthe cabinet every time it is desired to draw a supply of cool water.

' Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedreservoir for cool water which can be removably attached to the insidewall of a refrigerator door structure and-so positioned that it can bereadily filled without the use of a funnel and wherein the tap providingan outlet for the cooler is so positioned extending to the outside ofthe cabinet that there is no opportunity for freezing to occur at theoutlet.

. the upper part of the re Also among the objects of the invention isto,

provide a cool water reservoir so constructed that the contents will notsplash about unnecessarily when attached to a refrigerator door which isfrequently opened and closed and which is also cushioned in its mountingupon the door so that there will be no displacement or rattling when thedoor is closed.

Among the further objects of the invention is to provide a cool waterreservoir for attachment to the inside of a refrigerator door which isprovided with a water supply directly from the water main and which isso mounted on the door that the reservoir may be readily detached fromthe water supply line and removed from the door.

together with an outlet tap for the reservoir for oses of cleaning andreplacement; there bems of the invention auxpum ing provided in all foriliary dead air spaces to compensate for any reduction in thickness ofthe normal insulation removed for the insertion of the reservoir in thewall of the cabinet.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of thedevice whereby the'objects contemplated are attained, as hereinaftermore fully set forth,

pointed out in the claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,in which:

Figure 1 is a. vertical elevational front of a refrigerato the reservoirinstalled in a door,

Figure 2 is a vertical elevational *view showing frigerator door asviewed view of the from the inside,

Figure 3 is a lon line 3-3 of Figure 2, drawn t scale,

Figure 4 is a top 4-4 of Figure 3, I

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical section showing a modified type offiller spout.

Figure 6 is a vertical elevational view of a modified form of the deviceshowing a connection to a water supply pipe,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken on the line 1-7-1of Figure 6 showing the door in closed position and showing an open position for the door by dotted lines, and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary elevational view of the inside of the doorshowing a water supply connection for the reservoir of Figures 6 and '7.

In the past it has been sought to provide cool water reservoirs insideof refrigerator cabinets so arranged that the liquid contents could bedrawn off by means of a tap extending to the outside of the cabinet. Inthe main, such cool water reservoirs have been permanently installed inthe refrigerators so that they have not been accessible for cleaning andflushing or for ready and convenient replacement. When water is kept ina'small container, such as a reservoir of this kind must be, if it isnot used frequently deposits occur in the inside of the receptacle whichgive the water a smell and sometimes cause deterioration of the insideof the receptacle. It is also true that when receptacles are kept in anempty condition, the interior is likely to deteriorate and unless theycan purposes, the entire insta ally have to be replaced.

The invention comprising the subject matter of this patent applicationis devoted to the purpose of providing an inexpensive cool waterreservoir comprising a receptacle which can be detached from therefrigerator by merely loosening a pair of clamps so that the housewifemay be able to remove-it and wash it by ordinary means in a dishpan andthen replace-it before it is filled again with water to, be cooled. Inmaking such a receptacle completely removable, various factors must betaken into consideration, such, for

gitudinal section taken on the view in section on the line llation mighteventur showing the position of o a slightly larger be removed forcleaning exam le, as having the tap though permanently attached to thereceptacle removable with the receptacle without the use of wrenches.Also when a portion of the wall of the refrigerator is removed to make aplace for the reservoir, thereby reducing the thickness of insulation,the loss of insulation must be compensated for in some way or other.

With these problems in mind, we have shown by our invention aconventional refrigerated cabinet In which may utilize either mechanicalor ice refrigeration provided with side walls l2, a front wall l4 and adoor l3 hinged at the edge H.

.A door latch 18 is provided at the opposite side of It has been foundfurther advantageous to surround the side walls of the recess with aninsulating strip 53 so that an auxiliary dead air space side wall, aninner plate 23 forming an inside wall and a mass of insulation 21between the outer and inner walls. In the inner wall is provided arecess 29 which, as shown in Figure 2, is slightly larger than theoutside dimension of the reservoir and is designed to receive thereservoir so that it is substantially concealed within the door, thoughit is contemplated that where conditions' may permit, the reservoir mayprotrude slightly beyond the inside wall of the door. Blocks or cushions31 support the receptacle in the recess.

The reservoir itself consists of a receptacle having one side withintherecess and another side 3| facing the-inside of the'refrigeratorcabinet. The receptacle hasvertical side walls 32, a bottom 33 and a topwall 34. At the bottom of the receptacle is provided an outlet tap 35herein shown to be of the push-button type which is secured to thereceptacle by means of a suitv able fitting 36 near the bottom. At thetop of the receptacle is provided the filling spout 22 which is somewhatwider than it is deep in order that it may be readily filled by use ofapitcher without the necessity of using a funnel. The filling spout isprovided with a normally closed cover 40 having a hinge 4| at the rear.A cut out recess 42 is provided at the front for convenience in liftingthe cover. Inside the cover is an overcenter spring device 43 secured atone end to the spout and at the other end to the cover in such a waythat the expansion of the springnormally holds the cover closed butwhich will likewise hold the cover in a full open position, after thecover has been moved to open position, by a shifting of the position ofthe spring.

At the bottom of the recess surrounding the adjacent side 30 of thereceptacle is provided a strip of resilient insulating material whichextends entirely around the recess. In addition, at the bottom of therecess surrounding the base of the tap 35 is an auxiliary ring 5| of thematerial for sealing the tap opening when the receptacle is in placewithin the recess. The strip 50, together with the ring 5|, forms thedesired dead air space 52 between the adjacent walls of the re-.ceptacle and recess, respectively, which compen- 54 maybe providedaround the side walls respectively of the receptacle and the recess.

At the upper side of the recess there is provided a hollowed out portion60 which is designed to receive the filler spout 22 so that it may beinset from the inside wall of the door. The insulating strips, ofcourse, are designed to surround the receptacle adjacent the spout sothat no insulating value may be sacrificed.

For securing the receptacle in position in the recess, there is providedco'operable spring clips 62 and 34 at the sides of the recess engagingrespectively, a pair of shoulders 33 and 65 on the receptacle. Recessesand 81 are provided to give a finger hold for manipulating the springclips.

A tap-aperture Ill extends through the door and is slightly larger indiameter than the maximum diameter of the tap to permit the tap toeasily slide through the aperture. Adjacent the tap aperture is adepression H in the outside wall of the door and at the bottom of thedepression is a shelf 12. The shelf provides a sup rt for a tumbler, forexample, as well as serving as a drip pan. The depression 1| permitssetting the tumbler partially within the door so that there may be aprotrusion of the shelf and tap outwardly from the door a distance nogreater than the latch l8.

Under circumstances where it may be desirable to maintain a maximuminsulating efficiency in the door structure adjacent the receptacle afilling spout ofthe type shown in Figure 5 may be used. A spout 22extends outwardly from the inside wall 3| of the receptacle and thenupwardly where it is provided with the regular cover 40. Whenconstructed in this manner, the hollowed out portion can be eliminatedand the upper insulating strip 53 carried straight across the top of thereceptacle.

In normal use, the receptacle is installed in the wall of arefrigerator, as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, though, of course, itmay be installed on one of the permanent side walls as well as on aswinging door. The spring clips I2 and 84 retain the receptacle in placein the recess against the cushioning and sealing strips. 53.

The tap 35 extends through the wall of the cabinet and the aperturegiving access to the tap is properly sealed by means of the sealing ringI. It has been found good practice to fasten the sealing and resilientstrips to the walls of the recess so that the receptacle contains onlymetal parts and may be immersed in its entirety during the process ofcleaning.

While the receptacle is in place on the door, it may be filled throughthe filling spout 22 at the top. The liquid in the receptacle is cooledin the ordinary way by the temperature of the inside of the box and coolwater-may be drawn ofl by means of the tap without the necessity ofopening the door each time. When it is desired to remove the receptacle,it is only necessary to open the door, release the spring clips 32 and84 and then withdraw the'receptacle from the recess. At the same time,the tap II will slide out of the tap aperture past the surroundingsealing ring ill. The receptacle can then be cleaned by whatevermethcdmay be best. desired to reinsert the receptacle, it can be replacedeither full or empty by pushing it straight into the recess provided forit until the spring When it is clips "and 84 engage the respectiveshoulders 83 and 88. During insertion the tap is again slid through theaperture 18 and the surrounding sealing ring 8|. When in place, byreason of the fact that the receptacle is relatively thin, even thoughit may be filled with a substantial quantityof' water, there will be noundue splashing of the water as the door is opened and closed sincethere is little opportunity for the liquid to fiow from front to backrelative to the door.

On occasions where it may be desirable to have cool water underpressure, a modified form of the device may be found convenient. Such amodified form is illustrated in Figures 6, 'l and 8.

Except for the details of the connection, by reason of which water froma regular pressure sup ply is introduced into the receptacle, thereceptacle construction and the mounting upon the refrigerator door isessentially the same as described in the preferred form. When thepressure type is provided, it will, of course, not be necessary toprovide the receptacle with a filling spout 22. The spring-clipconstruction for removably holding the receptacle in the door remainsthe same as does also the manner of providing strips for cushioning andinsulating the recess providedv venience and appearance, concealedwithin the edge of the door to which the hinges are fastened. Connectedto the fitting 8| is a swivel connection 82 of some conventional designand at the other side of the swivel connection is a tube or pipe line 83for conducting tap water to the reservoir. It is found good constructionto make the axis of the swivel connection in alinement with the axis ofthe door hinges so that all rotate about the same axis when the door isopen.

At the side of the recess normally provided to receive the receptacle isa pocket 85 normally closed by a lid 88 here shown attached to theinside wall of the door by means of screws 81. The pipe 83 terminates ina detachable connection 88 which'is designed to engage afitting 89 onthe receptacle. Within the fitting is a gooseneck 88 the swivelconnection 82 in the water supply line.

When it is desired to remove a receptacle of the sort thus described forcleaning purposes, it is necessary only to first remove the lid 88 bytaking out the screws 81, then to uncouple the coupling 88, 88 andslide. the portion 88 back along the tube or pipe line 83, thendisengage the spring clips 82 and 84 and remove the receptacle aspreviously described. After washing and cleaning, the receptacle canthen be returned to its position in the recess, the connection 88, 88remade and the lid 88 placed back over the pocket 85. The water supplypipe in the meantime will, of course, be shut off by a valve or tap ofthe usual kind, not shown.

There has thus been provided a removable cool water-reservoir-forrefrigerators which is quick and convenient to install and which can bereadily removed for cleaning and then replaced whether the source ofwater be intermittent or continuous and under pressure.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of theparts of the device without departing from the real spirit and purposeof the invention, and it is our intention to cover by the claims anymodified forms of structure, or use of mechanical equivalents, which maybe reasonably included within their scope.

We claim as our invention:

. 1. In a refrigerator cabinet wall structure in- .cluding outer andinner plates and insulating material therebetween the combination of aremovable liquid reservoir comprising a, relatively thin receptaclehaving a tap adjacent the bottom and a normally closed filling apertureat the top of said receptacle, said wall structure having a recess inthe inner plate slightly larger than the outside dimensions of saidreceptacle, said receptacle being positioned in the recess, a sealingstrip around the recess forming a dead-air space between the bottomthereof and the receptacle when in place and releasable engagingelements on the walls of said receptacle and said inner platerespectively for releasably securing the receptacle to the wall.

2. In a refrigerator cabinet door structure including outer and innerplates and insulating material therebetween the combination of aremovable liquid reservoir comprising a relatively by means of whichwater is conducted from the connection to the top of the receptacle inorder to prevent short circuiting of water freshly introduced into thereceptacle directly to the outlet tap.

In order to maintain the insulating efliciency of the seal around thereceptacle, it may be found advantageous to fill the space- M with someinsulating strip attached to the lid 88 so that when the lid is placedover the pocket, the entire space along the adjacent side wallofthereceptacle will be filled with an insulating substance and the dead airspace between the respective walls of the recess and the receptacle willremain intact.

A receptacle 28a described in Figures 6, land 8, is normally positionedas-there shown with the connection 88, 89 made up so that water from thewater supply pipe'88 is introduced under pressure into the reservoir..When the tap is opened, cool water will be delivered under pressure. Inthe construction shown, the door may be freely opened and closed byreason of the presence of thin receptacle having a tap adjacent thebottom and a normally closed filling aperture at the top of saidreceptacle, said door having an'ecess in the inner plate slightly largerthan the outside dimensions of said receptacle,- said receptacle beingpositioned'in the recess, a sealing strip around the recess forming adead air space between the bottom thereof and the receptacle when inplace and releasable engaging elements on the walls of said receptacleand said recess respectively located between the strips and the insideedge of the recess for releasably securing the receptacle to the door.

3. In a refrigerator cabinet door structure including outer and innerdoor plates and insulating material therebetween the combination of aremovable liquid reservoir comprising a relatively thin receptaclehaving an outwardly projecting tap adjacent the bottom and a normallyclosed filling aperture at the top of said receptacle, said door havingan aperture therethrough adjacent the tap limited to a size slightlylarger in cross sectional area than the outside cross sectional area ofsaidtap to permit said tap to extend to the outside of the cabinet, saiddoor having a recess in the inner plate slightly greater in height andwidth than the corresponding dimentions of said receptacle, saidreceptacle being normally positioned in the recess, a sealing striparound the recess forming a dead air space between the walls of therecess and the receptacle respectively a secondary sealing ring aroundsaid tap aperture sealing of! said dead air space and releasableengaging elements on the walls of said receptacle and said recessrespectively for releasably holding the' receptacle in the recess.

4. In a refrigerator cabinet door structure ineluding outer and innerwalls and insulating material therebetween the combination of a;removable liquid reservoir comprising a relatively thin receptaclehaving an outwardly projecting tap adjacent the bottom and anormally-closed filling aperture at the top of said receptacle, saiddoor having an aperture therethrough adjacent the tap limited to a sizeslightly'larger in diameter than the outside diameter of said tap topermit said tap to extend through the door to the outside of thecabinet, a depression adjacent the aperture and a shelf at the bottom ofthe depression, said door having a recess in the inner wall'slightlygreater in height and width than the corresponding dimensions of saidreceptacle, said receptacle being normally positioned within the recess,a sealing strip around the bottom of the recess forming a dead air spacebetween the bottom thereof and the adacent side of the receptacle whennormally positioned, a seal forming a sliding flt around the tapaperture in contact with the tap and the adjacent receptacle wall, andspring pressed engaging elements on the walls of said receptacle andsaid door respectively for releasably holding the receptacle in therecess.

- thin receptacle having an outwardly projecting tap adjacent the bottomand a normally closed filling spout at thetop of said receptacle, said,

door having an aperture therethrough adjacent the tap limited to a sizeonly slightly larger in diameter than the outsidedimension of said tapto permit said tap to extend through the door to the outside of thecabinet, a relatively shallow depression adjacent the aperture and belowthe lower edge of said reservoir and a shelf at the bottom of thedepression extending outwardly relative to the face of the door, saiddoor having a recess in the inner wall slightly greater in height andwidth than the corresponding dimensions of said receptacle normallyreceiving the receptacle therein, and a pocket adjacent the top of saidrecess for reception of said filling spout, a sealing strip around thebottom of the recess supporting said reservoir and forming a dead airspace between the bottom of the recess and the adjacent side of thereceptacle when in normal position, a seal around the tap aperture incontact with the tap and the adjacent receptacle wall when in normalposition, sealing strips around the walls of the recess forming anauxiliary dead air space between the receptacle walls and adjacent wallsof the recess and spring pressed engaging elements on the walls of saidreceptacle and said door respectively outside of said dead air spaces-for releasably holding the receptacle on the door.

KINNEY-I. MILLER. IRWIN DUNBAR.

